Farming of Northamptonshire. 



47 



is not navigable in this county. The Ouse rises from a spring 

 called Ousewell, near to Brackley, and runs out of the county into 

 Buckinghamshire, being joined in its course by a small stream 

 called the To we, at Cosgrove. The Char well and the Learn, which 

 form part of the western boundary, both take their rise from the 

 locality of Charwelton near Daventry — the former leaving the 

 county near Aynho, and the latter running into the Severn near 

 to Staverton. The Avon rises in the parish of Naseby, and flows 

 westward, leaving the county at Lilbourn, flowing into Warwick- 

 shire. 



The Grand Junction Canal passes through the western part of 

 the county for about 24 miles, from the Oxford Canal, near Braun- 

 ston, to Cosgrove, having a branch from Ellsworth to Northamp- 

 ton, joining the river Nene, thus making a communication with 

 the sea at Wisbeach, There is also a branch to Stony Stratford. 

 The Grand Union Canal extends from the Grand Junction near 

 to Daventry, northwards to the Leicester Canal, having a branch 

 to Market Harborough. The Grand Junction Canal, in con- 

 nexion with the navigation of the river Nene, has afforded the 

 regular means of conveying the greater part of the surplus corn 

 produce to Birmingham and its vicinity, and also for the transit 

 of coals into the county. 



The London and North-Western Railway runs across the county 

 from Stoke Bruen to Kilsby, a distance of 23 miles ; a branch 

 from the main line commences at Blisworth and extends to Peter- 

 borough, running along the valley of the river Nene. The Rugby 

 and Stamford branch of the same line enters the county from 

 Rugby, near Lilbourn, running occasionally in and out of the 

 county to Stamford. The Great Northern line crosses the county 

 at Peterborough, and the Syston and Peterborough branch of the 

 Midland connects the north part of the county with Leicestershire, 

 Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. The Bletchley and Banbury 

 branch of the North-Western runs through the southern extre- 

 mity of the county from Brackley to Banbury. Since the open- 

 ing of these lines of railways, the old mode of driving cattle and 

 sheep to London has been nearly abandoned, and the surplus fat 

 stock of the county is now principally conveyed to Smithfield by 

 railway. 



It is estimated that there are 40,000 acres of land covered with 

 woods and plantations throughout the county, nearly 20,000 

 of which are occupied by the forests of Rockingham, Whittlewood, 

 and Salcey, with their adjoining woods or chaces. From these 

 localities annual sales of oak tim.ber and underwood take place, 

 but they yield a small revenue. In the woods connected with 

 Rockingham Forest there is some very fine oak timber, wet clay 

 land seeming to be the best adapted for the growth of the oak ; 



